How to Write a Philosophy Paper
Toolbox for Writing Philosophy Papers P. Turrisi 9/17/2010
Argumentation Writing tips
Sample checklist
Randall Library help with research:
Randall Library Tutorial on Finding Resources:
Randall Library guide to E-Resources:
☼ Philosopher’s Index Link at Randall Library
Links to writing resources here and beyond:
☼UNCW Learning Services:
• Consult a Learning Center peer writing tutor and/or
• Submit a paper for review online (at least one week in at advance):
• Ask a quick question:
☼Indiana University writing tutorials:
☼California State University, Sacramento, Department of Philosophy
Excerpt: What is a philosophy paper?The primary focus of a philosophy paper is the argument. An argument in philosophy is not merely a disagreement between people. An argument is a set of premises or reasons that are presented as support or grounds for believing a conclusion. If a claim is true, then there must be some good reasons for believing it. The goal of a good argument is to present and defend true conclusions. Philosophy is devoted to uncovering and clarifying the reasons that support conclusions and separating them from the claims that allegedly support the conclusion but fail. In philosophy papers we present, explain, and critically evaluate arguments.
☼Williams College -- Excellent advice regarding succinct writing:
Excerpt: Your Goal: The point of writing an essay . . . is to respond carefully and critically to themes in the philosophical tradition. While it is possible to do this from scratch, it is much more common at the introductory level to frame a view in reaction to the readings. Note that responding critically does not mean disagreeing. You are welcome to record your departures from the authors we have been considering. You are also welcome to expand on or slightly alter a point made by a philosopher.
☼Douglas Portmore’s Tip’s on Writing a Philosophy Paper: SIMPLY THE BEST
Excerpt:
1. Constructing a Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is that sentence or two that asserts your position on a given issue, specifically, the position that you will be arguing for in your paper. This thesis statement should appear somewhere in the introduction to your paper. It can be the first sentence, although that’s often a rather simplistic and unexciting way to begin your paper. More often, then, a thesis statement should appear at or near the end of the first paragraph or two.
The first step in developing a thesis (once you have decided on a topic) is to determine what your position is. To do this, you will need to thoroughly review all the relevant course materials. In most cases, you will have been presented with a number of arguments on both sides of the issue. Carefully analyze and evaluate all those arguments, taking notes as you do. In the process, you should develop your own take on the issue.
[pic]
................
................
In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.
To fulfill the demand for quickly locating and searching documents.
It is intelligent file search solution for home and business.